Psalm 19: God - The Perfect Lawgiver

  

The law of the LORD is perfect,
        reviving the soul;
    the testimony of the LORD is sure,
        making wise the simple;
    the precepts of the LORD are right,
        rejoicing the heart;
    the commandment of the LORD is pure,
        enlightening the eyes;
    the fear of the LORD is clean,
        enduring forever;
    the rules of the LORD are true,
        and righteous altogether.
    More to be desired are they than gold,
        even much fine gold;
    sweeter also than honey
        and drippings of the honeycomb.
    Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
        in keeping them there is great reward.
(Psalm 19:7-11 ESV)

  I heard an analogy once about the laws of God that I thought was very good.

A boy and his father went to go fly a kite. The boy was very young. It was his first experience with kite flying. His father helped him, and after several attempts the kite was in the air. The boy ran and let out more string, and soon the kite was flying high. The little boy was so excited; the kite was beautiful. Eventually there was no more string left to allow the kite to go higher. The boy said to his father, “Daddy, let’s cut the string and let the kite go; I want to see it go higher and higher.”

His father said, “Son, the kite won’t go higher if we cut the string.”

“Yes, it will,” responded the little boy. “The string is holding the kite down; I can feel it.” The father handed a pocketknife to his son. The boy cut the string. In a matter of seconds the kite was out of control. It darted here and there and finally landed in a broken heap. That was difficult for the boy to understand. He felt certain the string was holding the kite down.

The commandments and laws of God are like the kite string. We may feel like they hold us back, like they keep us from living life to the fullest. We may feel, like the little boy, that without them we would enjoy our life more, be free to soar. But like the kite, the commandments and laws of God are what make a successful life possible. They lead us and guide us upward. Obedience to these laws gives us peace, hope, and direction.

That is why David rejoices about the laws of the Lord in this Psalm. He understands that the laws of God don't restrain us. They allow us to soar.